Learn moreThe Lakeshore Housing Alliance, part of Greater Ottawa County United Way, offers a variety of services related to housing. LHA gathers and reports data on homelessness, the housing ma...

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The Lakeshore Housing Alliance, part of Greater Ottawa County United Way, offers a variety of services related to housing. LHA gathers and reports data on homelessness, the housing market, emergency shelter availability, affordable housing plans for people and works with almost two dozen social services agencies, ministries and government offices.

Now a part of Greater Ottawa County United Way, LHA is at 115 Clover, Suite 300, in Holland. Visit ottawaunitedway.org or call (616) 396-7811.

Tomorrow, representatives from the Greater Ottawa County United Way will head to the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness awards breakfast in Lansing.

Patrick Moran, Greater Ottawa County United Way president, couldn't be happier. United Way's Lakeshore Housing Alliance is set to receive two honors. THe housing alliance, is dedicated to helping people in Ottawa and Allegan counties access safe, affordable housing and related services. This is no small task. As of April, according to LHA statistics, 318 individual and 188 families were homeless in Ottawa County. Of those without a home, 122 are younger than the age of 18. Only 36 of those 18 to 24 years old are homeless. The remainder, 160 people, are 24 or older.

LHA works to coordinate resources for people who need help finding a place to live, whether emergency shelter, transitional or long-term housing. Along with that, LHA works to prevent homelessness, again by connecting people in need to resources, whether government agencies or charities devoted to such work.

MCAH's program description calls Wednesday's event the Breakfast of Champions; the gathering's goal is to "raise awareness of homelessness, celebrate accomplishments and generate support to further our mission."

One honor recognizes Greater Ottawa County United Way's aid to LHA. As United Way officials addressed financial stability and basic needs across the county, it became clear that LHA needed a new operational plan, the result of changes in grant opportunities and local infrastructure, according to United Way officials. Working together, the two agencies found that LHA could continue operating, and do so more efficiently, by becoming part of United Way.

LHA Coordinator Lyn Raymond now works as a United Way staff member.

The other honor LHA is set to get is the 'Community Champion Award,' recognizing an agency's work in the field. Only two agencies get the award each year. Among the reasons LHA is being honored: Hosting a countywide housing forum and working with the HUD program to access more than $1 million dollars in federal and state grants and helping other Ottawa County agencies with technology, specifically with a homeless-management information system.

Moran told The Sentinel, just before Friday's Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area's spring luncheon, Raymond will accept the awards, "and she really deserves that."